Sophos: Top 10 Viruses and Hoaxes in April 2003
This is the latest in a series of monthly charts counting down the ten most frequently occurring viruses and hoaxes as compiled by Sophos, a global leader in anti-virus protection for businesses.
For April 2003, the virus chart is as follows, with the most frequently occurring virus at number one:
1. W32/Klez-H (Klez variant) 12.7% 15th MONTH IN CHART
2. W32/Lovgate-E (Lovgate variant) 4.9% RE-ENTRY
3. W32/Bugbear-A (Bugbear worm) 4.3%
4. W32/Sobig-A (Sobig worm) 3.3%
5=. W32/ElKern-C (Elkern variant) 2.9%
5=. W32/Yaha-E (Yaha variant) 2.9%
5=. W32/Yaha-K (Yaha variant) 2.9%
8. JS/NoClose (NoClose worm) 2.1%
9. W32/Flcss (FunLove) 1.9% RE-ENTRY
10. Dial/Datemake-A (Datemake dialler) 1.6% NEW ENTRY
Others 60.5%
“While Klez refuses to go away, a new entry this month is Datemake – a type of malware known as a dialler. It is programmed to dial a premium rate telephone line, typically with the intent of gaining access to adult material,” says Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos Anti-Virus. “Businesses should apply strict computing guidelines to prevent getting stung by a huge telephone bill and embarrassed by these seedy programs.”
Sophos detected 475 new viruses, worms and Trojan horses in April. The total number it now protects against is 81,437.
The top ten hoaxes reported to Sophos during April 2003 are as follows:
1. WTC Survivor 18.1% SECOND MONTH AT NUMBER ONE
2. JDBGMGR 15.4%
3. Hotmail hoax 8.1%
4. Meninas da Playboy 7.6%
5. A virtual card for you 5.4%
6. Budweiser frogs screensaver 5.2%
7. Bonsai kitten 3.8%
8. A Vida é Bela 2.7% RE-ENTRY
9. BUDDYLYST.ZIP 1.9%
10. Poison perfume 1.7% NEW ENTRY
Others 30.2%
“The WTC Survivor hoax continues to fool many computer users. Indeed, a newspaper in the United Arab Emirates has recently warned readers to be ready for imminent attack, ” said Cluley. “People who receive this hoax shouldn’t believe everything they read. Instead of forwarding the warnings to everyone they know, they should ask their network managers for advice.”
Sophos has made available a free, constantly updated information feed for intranets and websites which means users can always find out about the latest viruses and hoaxes: www.sophos.com/virusinfo/infofeed/ Graphics of the above Top Ten virus chart are available at www.sophos.com/pressoffice/imgallery/topten For more information about safe computing, including anti-hoax policies, please visit: www.sophos.com/safecomputing//A>